Snoop Dogg is being sued by musician and producer Trevor Lawrence Jr. for copyright infringement over his alleged use of two backing tracks on his 2022 album Bode.
The lawsuit, filed in California on Tuesday (July 15), notes that Lawrence has collaborated with many well-known artists, including Herbie Hancock, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Lionel Richie, Ed Sheeran and more.
The lawsuit names Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus Jr.), Death Row Records (DRR) and blockchain platform Gala Music (BGP) as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Lawrence, as a producer, “frequently created instrumental compositions and recordings based on these compositions,” which the complaint explains are referred to as “background music.”
Lawrence’s lawsuit, which you can read in full here , adds that he then provided “these backing tracks to recording artists, e.g. [Snoop Dogg] For use in creating derivative works”
The lawsuit continues: “Lawrence’s practice was standard music industry practice of composing the backing track ‘according to specifications,’ that is, on his own initiative and not at the request of any third party.
“Once they are completed, Lawrence will make his backing tracks available to recording artists for the limited purpose of allowing them to experiment with them in the studio, with the understanding that appropriate licenses will and must be negotiated before they can truly be used commercially. any derivative works based on these tracks.
In 2010, following a complaint from Lawrence, he composed two instrumental tracks under the title pop pop pop my 9 and Use Hook to get this D. Both tracks are said to have been registered with the Copyright Office.
Lawrence claims that “around November 2020,” he provided the tracks to Snoop Dogg for “potential studio experimentation,” and “Broadus [aka Snoop Dogg] “There was a positive response to the tracks and a request to provide him with copies”.
The lawsuit alleges that Lawrence provided Snoop Dogg with a digital copy of the track, but they did not reach an agreement as to “whether Broaddus could commercially exploit Lawrence’s track in any capacity.”
But then, in January 2022, Lawrence claimed that he was contacted by “representatives of Broadus/DRR” and told him that Snoop Dogg “intended to include… pop pop pop my 9 on the upcoming album.
During that phone call, Lawrence told Snop Dogg’s representatives that “his anticipated licensing fee would include, but not be limited to, a $10,000 flat-fee producer advance, recoverable from producer royalties,” according to the lawsuit.
Lawrence claims he informed Snoop Dogg’s representatives that he “will also retain a 50% interest in the underlying musical composition and receive music publishing royalties on derivative works.”
“At no time did the Defendants or any of them communicate to Lawrence any intention to exploit Lawrence’s tracks in connection with bundled products such as BGP’s Stash Boxes, nor did Lawrence authorize any such exploitation of his work, which was never stated in Within his prior considerations.
Trevor Lawrence Jr. files lawsuit
The lawsuit adds: “Lawrence further stated that he expected the license to be properly ‘papered’ (i.e., reduced to a written agreement confirming the relevant scope and terms of the licensing arrangement). The representative confirmed that Broadus/DRR was acceptable to these anticipated terms.”
Lawrence claimed that a representative contacted him again later in January to inform him of his backing track Use Hook to get this D It is also planned to be used on the upcoming Snoop Dogg album.
Snoop Dogg subsequently released an album titled Bode Released on February 11, 2022 via Death Row Records, including tracks popular popular and Get this dick. Lawrence claimed that his backing tracks were incorporated into both tracks.
The lawsuit continues: “Between January 28, 2022, and February 11, 2022, no representative from Broadus or DRR contacted Lawrence or otherwise provided any documentation confirming the agreed upon scope of use or utilizing Lawrence’s compensation clauses.
Lawrence claimed that he discovered that Snoop Dogg” and/or” Death Row Records had “authorized” Gala Music to exploit the tracks as part of a “bundled product called “Stash Boxes,” in which customers could obtain individual tracks from the album. Songs are used in conjunction with other media assets, such as non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) designed to capitalize on the album’s popularity and stimulate consumer interest. [Gala Music’s] As the overall business of the NFT platform”.
The lawsuit claims that “at no time did the Defendants or any of them communicate to Lawrence any intention to exploit Lawrence’s tracks in connection with bundled products such as BGP’s Stash Boxes, nor did Lawrence authorize any such exploitation of his work, This was not at all within the scope of his previous considerations.”
The complaint also alleges that to date, “Defendants have refused to properly license” Lawrence’s backing track “or compensate Lawrence for his use.”
“It is known and believed that Defendants have made tens of millions of dollars by:” [Gala Music’s] the provision of the Stash Box, and the resulting unauthorized exploitation of Lawrence’s tracks”.
Lawrence is suing Snoop Dogg for alleged direct copyright infringement, contributory copyright infringement and vicarious copyright infringement.
On all three counts, Lawrence seeks “compensation for damages, including actual damages and any and all gains, profits and benefits derived by the defendants as a result of the infringement, in an amount determined by the evidence at trial.”
He also seeks “temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting continued infringement of the phonogram during the copyright term.”global music business
